Aston Villa sign Southampton left-back

 

Aston Villa have announced the arrival of Southampton left-back Matt Targett on a long-term deal.

 

The newly promoted Premier League outfit have reportedly agreed a deal worth as much as £17m for the 23-year-old.

 

Signing a new left-back has been a priority for Villa this summer and Targett’s arrival will solve a problem position for Dean Smith.

 

“We’re very pleased to have Matt join us,” Smith told the club’s official website. “He’s a player we have been looking at for a considerable amount of time.

 

“He fits our criteria of being a young player with experience of playing in the Premier League and having the potential to develop further.

 

“He will help make us a strong defensive unit and we are all looking forward to working with him.”

 

 

Targett is the third new arrival at Villa this summer following deals for Wesley and Jota.

 

Villa have also made Anwar El Ghazi and Kortney Hause’s loan stints permanent and are monitoring Axel Tuanzebe’s future at Manchester United.

 

Of all full-backs to start 10 or more Premier League matches only Lucas Digne (2.2), Kieran Trippier (1.9) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (1.8) created more chances per 90 minutes than Targett (1.7) last season.